Highlights for March 28 - April 1, 2005

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Office of Security Transportation (OST) Comprehensive Inspection: An initial meeting was held to discuss coordination issues and possible locations for force-on-force performance testing in support of this inspection scheduled to be conducted.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Analysis of data collected during the last site visit continued this week. Onsite performance testing, report writing, and close out activities are scheduled . This inspection is part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

Site Assistance Visits (SAVs): Preparations continued for the remaining scheduled SAV to be conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Similar activities are being considered for the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico (SNL-NM) and the Hanford Site. The objective of the SAVs is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the September 2004 design basis threat (DBT). A final report summarizing SAV activities is scheduled to be released in May.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Classified Removable Electronic Media (CREM) Follow-Up Review: Onsite review activities were conducted at LANL this week (March 28-31). The review focused on organizations that were not evaluated during the validation conducted at LANL in November 2004.

Meeting with the General Accounting Office (GAO) Regarding the Elite Protective Force Initiative: Met with SO and GAO to discuss the status of Departmental actions to establish an elite protective force.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned Report: The revision of the lessons learned report in response to management review continued. The report is based on past safeguard and security inspection results, and identifies positive attributes, areas needing improvement, and best practices. The final report will be distributed to ESE and NNSA security managers.

Basic Security Police Officer Training Special Review: The report was distributed this week. The special review assessed the effectiveness of the Basic Security Policy Officer curriculum taught at the National Training Center (NTC) and at various DOE sites in preparing entry-level officers to defend against an adversary and performing routine duties.

Safeguards and Security Policy Streamlining Process: Review of the streamlined security orders continued. A meeting will be scheduled between the Director, OA-10, and Director, Office of Safeguards and Security Policy and Classification (SO-10), to discuss remaining concerns.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Meeting: Met with NRC security staff this week (March 28) to discuss OA methods and protocols for conducting protective force performance testing. A key discussion point was the limitations of assessing the outcome of a force-on-force exercise as a win or loss for the site protective force.

Nuclear Materials Management Safeguards System (NMMSS) Task Force Special Review Follow-up: Task force members traveled to the Savannah River Site (SRS) this week to assess progress on software upgrades to NMMSS. Data collected during the visit is under review. Much progress appears to have occurred and the schedule to complete the upgrades has been significantly shortened. The task force was augmented by computer experts from the OA Office of Cyber Security (OA-20).

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Security for Special Access Programs Course: OA provided a presentation in support of this course in Alexandria, Virginia this week (March 30). The presentation was based on lessons learned from 2004 inspection activities.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Classified Cyber Security Inspection: The data request memorandum was submitted this week for the inspection scheduled. This is part of a combined inspection with OA-10.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Classified Cyber Security Inspection: Additional technical evaluation of the SNL-NM network was conducted this week. Validation and close out activities are scheduled. The scope of the cyber inspection is scheduled to include SNL operations in New Mexico and California. This inspection is being conducted as a part of a combined OA 10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

South-Eastern Power Administration (SEPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Onsite validation and closeout activities were conducted at SEPA Headquarters in Elberton, GA, this week (March 30-31). SEPA has until mid-April to provide comments on the draft final report.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Comments to the final draft report were received and are being addressed. The final report is scheduled to be issued next week (April 4-8).

Continuous Network Scanning Program: DOE sites identified during the perimeter scanning project are being added to the scanning program as points of contact are established and IP ranges are verified. Additional sites will be incorporated into the program over the next several months. This program is being conducted in support of the Secretary's Security Initiatives.

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Comments to the interim CAP were provided to BNL this week.

Department of Energy Architecture Repository (DEAR) Software Application Special Review Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The expected interim CAP was not received from the CIO this week. A security review of the DEAR software application, managed by the OCIO, was performed in response to concerns raised by the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU).

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Planning has been completed to observe a site training exercise scheduled to be conducted. Onsite inspection planning and data collection activities are scheduled.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Report writing continued this week. Onsite performance testing and close out activities are scheduled. Inspection activities will include integrating emergency management and security performance test objectives. This inspection is being conducted as a part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

Chemical and Biological (Chem/Bio) Agents Safeguards and Security and Emergency Management Special Review: Information gathering continued. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention responded to a March 18 request for information on select agents and toxins stored or used at DOE laboratories and sites. Interviews are being scheduled with the Director of the NNSA Service Center and the Senior Technical Advisor for Bioscience to understand the current status of program activities. OA-30 inspection activities have been communicated to the NNSA and Office of Environment, Safety and Health Biosurety Committee/Working Group. It is planned to work with this group on matters of common interest.

National Response Assets Inspection Planning: The Director, OA-30, is scheduled to meet with the Region 2 Oak Ridge Office of Radiological Assistance Program Team Leader to gather additional information next week (April 7). Meetings are also scheduled with the Office of Emergency Response (NA-42) including the Security/Classification group, the Operations Program, the Exercise Program, and the Training Program during the week of April 11. Arrangements have been made for key OA-30 staff to observe the Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) team training the week of May 9.

National Response Plan Roll-out Workshop: The Director, OA-30, is scheduled to represent the Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance (SSA) at the first National Response Plan workshop in Washington, D.C. This event is designed to highlight stakeholder partnerships and walk through some of the relationships of the multi-agency coordinating entities. The event will highlight Federal, State, local, tribal and private- sector partnerships.

Office of Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H) Evaluations (OA-40)

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) Review: Coordination with OCRWM representatives continued this week in support of this review. On March 17, the Deputy Director, Office of Strategy and Program Development, OCRWM, requested an independent review of the concerns regarding alleged retaliation and discrimination within the OCRWM organization.

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite planning and data collection activities have been scheduled to be conducted at ANL, Argonne, IL.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Environment, Safety, and Health Management Inspection: The draft report is scheduled to be submitted to the Quality Review Board this week (April 1). Onsite validation and close out activities are scheduled to be conducted in conjunction with the other OA offices conducting a combined inspection.

Pantex Plant (Pantex) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The site is required to provide a final CAP to OA for review and comment by mid-May.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The CAP is scheduled to be provided to OA next week (April 4). Livermore Site Office indicated that development of the CAP has been delayed due to the extensive effort associated with evaluation of the extent of condition and compensatory measures for the Plutonium Facility.

Assistance to New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL): Development of a radiological technical basis and a Maintenance Implementation Plan for the laboratory continued.

ES&H Lessons Learned Reports: Development of the Unreviewed Safety Question Process lessons learned report continued. Six additional focus areas are being evaluated as part of the ES&H inspections being conducted during CY 2005.

National Training Center (NTC) Safety Professional Development Program: Continued to provide support to the NTC regarding the development of two courses, Safety Systems Oversight (SSO) and Contractor Oversight (CO). The first SSO course is scheduled to be provided during the week of April 11. The CO course is expected to be initiated in May. Also provided support in the development of an On-line General Technical Base course. On November 5, the Secretary of Energy designated the National Training Center (NTC) as the center of excellence in security and safety professional development. This initiative is in partnership with NNSA, EH, and other departmental organizations including the Federal Technical Capability Program. The Director, SSA, designated OA-40 senior staff to lead the safety professional development efforts.

Draft Oversight Order 226.1: The Director accompanied the OA-1 and OA-10 Directors at a meeting with Dr. Bruce Matthews, DNFSB members, and key staff regarding the draft Order this week. The Director also met with members of the 2004-1 working group this week (April 1) to answer questions and solicit feedback on the order.